Part IV: Organizational Partisanship & Biasness – The Need for Change Within the SFWA

Part 4 of 4

Death and life are in the power of the tongue.

Proverbs, 18:21

Another necessary concern regarding the SFWA 2013 Elections to consider is the ongoing negative blog postings relative to Theodore Beale. As stated previously, the negativity is reaching the level that caused the Bauer vs. Glatzer[1] lawsuit. What’s next on the horizon?

Will the Defendants in the Bauer case and their minions resort to boycotts of Theodore Beale’s books?

Will the Defendants in the Bauer case and their minions resort to creating a “Thumbs Down” list for SFWA candidates that they deem undesirable?

Many of these individuals have already had their fair share of lawsuits and cease & desist requests. However, there is a very qualified difference here. As an example, what Bauer vs. Glatzerlacked in terms of prosecution, it made up for in terms of customary (anticipated) blogger commentary and potential liability; unfortunately most of them have not learned their lesson yet. Moreover, new case law is always being developed regarding this kind of activity and the Teflon is getting thinner. Someone with in this group of mashuganas is going to eventually take the fall . . . and it’s going to be a big fall.

It will be interesting to watch how this continues to play out . . . both pre-election and post election. Could Theodore Beale consider possible legal action against these Internet posters? Will it be another Cretella v. Kuzminski (i.e. The Case Against Preditors & Editors David L. Kuzminski)? Will it reach this level? Are slander and defamation actions imminent? Could Beale establish a claim for loss of opportunity?

It’s interesting to ponder these scenarios; even if they are hypothetical. However, generally speaking, most of the comments currently being made by independent bloggers would most likely not be cloaked with the protections of the Communication Decency Act (CDA 230) which protected Wikipedia but not necessarily the remaining defendants in the Bauer case; nor did it completely exonerate them.

No man [woman] is an island, entire of itself, every man [woman] is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.

William Blake

In Part III of this series, we indicated that John Scalzi was no Moses. By contrast, Moses gathered people together; he fused people and created a communal entity far more than a collection of individuals.

A group that gathers together can also move apart, and even while together, the union is not compete; an examination of the SFWA voting history clearly supports the notion that it has become segregated. There doesn’t appear to be any spirit of unity. What, if anything, binds and unifies the members of the current SFWA? How defunct is an organization where its President (Scalzi) is elected on only 11% of the entire possible vote?

Moses was the epitome of self-transcendence; every aspect of his being was committed to others. He was able to inspire transcendence. Moses has been described as a shepherd. He infused harmony even when facing different factions or contrary opinions. The establishment of unity among the membership is essential to the health of organization. The more that a leader is able to develop his/her own harmony, he/she will be more open to others and be willing to relate to them as equals. This will encourage the expression of the inner bond that all members should share . . . versus being in a constant state of discord. What motivates a leader to rise above their personal agendas? A leader’s service should begin with marshalling the different aspects of their own being first. Then, and only then, can the organization work towards unity and harmony.

Let his days be few; and let another take his office.

Psalm 109, v8

The dreadful reign of John Scalzi is finally coming to an end. Selah! Change is also coming to the SFWA. The pending election will either result in “sweeping” change or simply a change in leadership. This is not merely a promise; this is something that can be anticipated today. Regardless of who may ultimately win the 2013 SFWA Presidential Election, Theodore Beale or Steven Gould, either of them has the potential to establish a new harmony within the organization (SFWA) and to spread that harmony among the membership. Moreover, both candidates have the opportunity to create sweeping changes within the SFWA and shed the tarnished image left by the Scalzi and his minions:

“Scalzi, current president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, responded by calling [Beale], ‘a jackass, and a fairly ignorant jackass at that.’”

Queerty, Free of an Agenda, Except that Gay One

SFWA members: this year it’s IMPORTANT to vote in the upcoming officer elections. Theodore Beale, a.k.a. Vox Day, is running for SFWA President. If you know the name, you’ll know why that’s scary. If you don’t, read the post below… My cat would be the better choice. And my cat is dead. [Emphasis added]

Victoria Strauss on Facebook 2/1/13

If he did win, he’d be like the dog that caught the car–Holy shit. This wasn’t supposed to happen. What do I do now?

Victoria Strauss

Elections, and organizational change, represent the opportunity to search. The need to search is not a choice but a necessity. The search is personal (i.e. within the SFWA membership) as well as institutional. The process of searching gives all members the opportunity to take corrective measures (voting), find what is missing and identify the needs of the organization.

I’ve never expected SFWA to do anything for me because I require nothing from it. However, I have the luxury of regarding my membership as an affectation; other members of SFWA might actually want it to do something useful for them. I happen to think SFWA can be useful; I happen to think it doesn’t do a particularly good job of being useful.[Emphasis added]

John Scalzi

Contrary to John Scalzi’s dogma, dues-paying members of any organization do expect something in return; something far beyond a mere “affection.” Organizations have a purpose to establish a “commonwealth” . . . something for the greater good . . . for its members, not something that an elected official can be half-heartedly dedicated to. Admitted, Scalzi was honest about this point and where his priorities stood:

I’ve been a SFWA member long enough to know that it’s a fairly thankless position, with lots of herding cats and dealing with aggravating minutiae, and I have a career to look after at the moment. [Emphasis added]

– John Scalzi

***

Shaming another in public is like shedding blood.

Talmud, v6

In conclusion, the huge difference in these organizational elections is that they do not include political parties . . . they involve people . . . human beings. Accordingly, they should be civil and partisan. This particular race for SFWA President is turning into something very political . . . with the same cast of characters showing their true colors again. However, it’s unique that the negative attacks are being waged against one of their own . . . Theodore Beale. Theodore Beale’s only crimes are that he writes controversial pieces and that he disagrees with John Scalzi. Being controversial is nothing new when it comes to past (or present) SFWA Presidents. Why is it such a big issue now? Unfortunately, this whole ordeal is making Scalzi and his minions look like a bunch of schlemiels.

“Scalzi, current president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, responded by calling [Beale], ‘a jackass, and a fairly ignorant jackass at that.’”

Queerty, Free of an Agenda, Except that Gay One

John Scalzi had the opportunity to stand up (for once) and demonstrate that he had true leadership qualities. Criticism and contrary opinion are to be expected for elected officials . . . Scalzi doesn’t appear to have learned that lesson. Instead, in a very farcical move, Scalzi has rose up in opposition to Beale by publically endorsing Steven Gould; not a very “Presidential” maneuver when an unbiased stance would have given him the appearance of being a leader. However, Beale has given us all a glimpse of how “Presidential” he is. We do not ever recall an outgoing president of the SFWA to have ever publically endorsed one candidate over the other. Again, John Scalzi never was and never will be a Moses.

People join organizations, such as the SFWA, to have a voice, to be represented and to be members of a group. This 2013 election is the perfect time to deliver the SFWA from the mindsets of the likes of Scalzi and readjust so that it can take on a more purposeful mindset. In choosing our leaders, we should not select only those who are like us in temperament and personality. Nor should we choose only those who act in a certain way that we find agreeable to our personal lives and acceptable standards. In selecting the next SFWA President you will have to abandon your proneness to conformity and/or complacency.

Educate yourself and vote accordingly . . . but DO VOTE and encourage other SFWA members to vote.

Vice President and Assistant General Counsel to the New York Times, David McCraw’s recent lecture at the Media Law in the Digital Age conference at Kennesaw State University touched on some of the dangers and obstacles Wikileaks faces in the realm of fundraising.